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To be near the gay beach, park in lot #1, the northernmost lot. On Tuesday evenings, food trucks gather at Haulover Park, providing a variety of dining options. In the northern lot, you can rent a boat. In the southern section of the parking lot, find bike rentals, a skate park, a dog beach and a charter fishing fleet. Take advantage of chair and umbrella rentals on the beach (best to bring cash) as well as food and beverage service provided by onsite vendors. Don’t worry if you aren’t ready to bare it all – there are plenty of people who prefer to stay clothed while still enjoying time around “family” without body shaming. On the weekends, the beach is packed with locals and visitors alike working on their all-over tans. Gay beach-goers tend to gather on the northernmost section of the nude beach. On this nearly half-mile stretch of beach, nudity is legal and the vibe is very welcoming. The park is known as one of the best “naturist” beaches in the world.
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Haulover Park, about 11 miles north of South Beach, is famous for being the only beach in Florida with a clothing-optional area. There are a few street spots along Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th streets, but you’re more likely to find a spot in a parking lot. The best parking option for 12th Street Beach is the city garage at 13th and Collins. When it’s time to refuel, you’ll find many restaurant and bar choices, including the famous Palace Bar, just a couple of blocks down Ocean Drive, and Twist South Beach, which is a couple of blocks west at 11th and Washington. The beach is dotted with rainbow flags near each lifeguard station. Bring your towel and sunblock it gets hot on the sand. Miami Beach Pride uses the park around 12th Street for the Pride Festival, which over the past 10 years has grown into one of the largest celebrations of gay pride in the region. 12th Street Beach is also home to the famous beach parties thrown each year by the Winter Party Festival and the White Party. It’s smack dab in the middle of the city’s Lummus Park, a green space that runs along Ocean Drive with volleyball courts, weightlifting equipment and public restrooms. In Miami, no beach is more popular with the LGBTQ+ crowd than 12th Street Beach. Of the two, 12th Street is known as the more raucous beach, but both are welcoming and beautiful places to spend the day soaking up the sun with friends. The city boasts two “semi-official” gay beaches: 12th Street Beach, with its rainbow flags, and Haulover Beach, with a designated “clothing-optional” area. It’s no wonder that the beaches here are equally inviting. Nookies: Open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, and until midnight during the rest of the week, this classic Boystown diner serves traditional American fare like burgers, cheesesteaks, and French toast.With its vibrant nightlife, bars and party scene, Miami has long been a hotspot for the LGBTQ+ community.On Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant stays open until midnight.
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The kitchen turns out commendable international fare and many of the glamorous staffers dress in drag. Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club: One of Lakeview's swankier mixed gay-straight lounges and eateries, Kit Kat is a retro-hip hangout.The casual spot with a cheery patio out back has long been a friend to Chicago's LGBT community and stays open until 11 p.m. Chicago Diner: Since 1983, this old-school diner has been serving an entirely vegetarian menu, including some highly inventive fare that even meat-lovers rave about.Lark: The trendy and inviting neighborhood bistro is a rustic-chic space that has cultivated a strong happy hour following and also stays open for post-midnight nibbles on Friday and Saturday nights.It's a relatively intimate space as far as Boystown dance clubs go, but that makes it all the more fun when you want to get closer to someone. Scarlet: This cosmopolitan, upscale gay lounge and dance club is known for its dandy drink specials and sleek decor.Mostly, it's simply a pulsing venue for dancing to some of the best music in the neighborhood. Hydrate: This eclectic dance club has earned a loyal following for its imaginative theme nights and occasional lube-wrestling competitions.The bar serves exceptional craft cocktails and boasts a nice selection of craft beers. The name is meant to evoke the idea that the LGBT community has come a long way toward being inclusive and all-welcoming, and indeed, the crowd is fairly mixed. Progress Bar: A swanky nightspot with a fanciful, eye-catching "cloud" ceiling, this bar draws in the well-dressed bunch.Berlin: A friendly dance club on the busy Belmont Avenue, Berlin has been a gay nightlife mainstay in Chicago for many years, its success due largely to its come-one-come-all vibe.